The recent publication “From simulation to distribution: A novel approach to depolymerization kinetics using PHB hydrolysis as a case study” performed within the research project “Circular Economy Using the Example of Selected Biopolymers (Production – Processing – Recycling) Biocycle-UA II”– supported by the federal government of Upper Austria (Land Oberösterreich) and the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE Österreich) in the framework of the EU-program IBW/EFRE & JTF (Just Transition Fund) 2021-2027 (www.efre.gv.at).
Within this project, the Competence Centre CHASE GmbH developed a profound simulation tool for the investigation and kinetic prediction of melt hydrolysis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with respect to chemical recycling approaches. In addition to the ester bond hydrolysis in the liquid phase, significant changes in the gas phase of the autoclave occurred. In-depth analysis thereof requires specialised gas sampling techniques and high-tech analytical equipment.
For solving this analytical task, the HPR-20 R&D quadrupole mass spectrometer from Hiden Analytical Europe GmbH is a very powerful research equipment. The heated Quartz Inert Capillary (QIC) enables a convenient and fast measurement of the gas atmosphere within the polymer hydrolysis autoclave. Furthermore, the high sensitivity of the HPR-20 R&D allows fast measurements, which reduces the amount of sample required. Hiden Analytical MASsoft software enables a precise and fast data processing for determination of the gasphase composition. In our experimental setup, upon elongated polymer hydrolysis the products decompose into propene and carbon dioxide. These two gas analytes were measured together with nitrogen and oxygen from air atmosphere and water content. All these gas analytes possess a molecular weight below 50 g/mol and are therefore precisely analysed via the selected 50 amu mass range option.
Figure 1. Experimental setup of the melt hydrolysis of PHA and the HPR-20 R&D with the current CHASE Biocycle Team: Dominik Wielend, Anna Mičanová, Simon Herber, Hanna Angster, and Prof. Christian Paulik as scientific director of CHASE.
Although biopolyester hydrolysis within the framework of chemical recycling is at first glance not the primary application field of mass spectrometer for gas analysis, the HPR-20 R&D strongly supported the research towards the depolymerisation kinetics and simulation. With the analysis of the gas phase, the kinetic models were strongly substantiated as published in Polymer Degradation and Stability.
This work has been conducted by the Competence Centre CHASE GmbH in close collaboration with the Institute for Chemical Technology of Organic Materials (CTO) at the Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) of Univ. Prof. Christian Paulik.
We are confident, that the HPR-20 R&D will also support our future research in the field of circular economy.
Project Summary by: Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Christian Paulik, Head of Institute for Chemical Technology of Organic Materials, Scientific Director Competence Centre
CHASE, and Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria.
Paper Reference: N. Hohenauer, D. Wielend, K. Kelderer, J. Holzinger, G. Spiegel, C. Schwarzinger and C. Paulik „From simulation to distribution: A novel approach to
depolymerization kinetics using PHB hydrolysis as a case study” Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2026, 246 (April), 111949. DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111949.
Hiden Product: HPR-20 R&D.
